Mexico 2004

Los Cabos, Baja California, Mexico

In October 2004, we had a 10 day trip to Los Cabo, Mexico for the best fishing holiday of our lives.

We flew with American Airlines who were fantastic - they really looked after us and now we wouldn't want to fly to the USA with anyone else.

We stayed at the Cabo Villas resort, developed and owned by Chris Erickson. Again - we couldn't have asked for a nicer resort to stay in. We were based right on the Playa El Medano (one of the few beaches where it's safe to swim) and we had the most fantastic views from our balcony looking out across the beach and the bay to 'El Arco' (the Arch). The apartment was very luxurious and most importantly had full air conditioning as well as ceiling fans. The maid came in to clean every day and surprise us with the most superb towel arrangements when we arrived back late in the afternoon. She managed not to duplicate any arrangement throughout the whole of our 10 day stay. The swimming pool was very nice but the sea - only a few hundred yards away - was warmer. Walking into the sea was like getting in the bath!

Sea of Cortez Medano Beach Apartment Queen size bed Beautiful Swan Resort Pool

Now the main reason for choosing Los Cabos...the fantastic game fishing. Los Cabos is otherwise known as: 'The Marlin Capital of the World' and aboard Chris Erickson's boat, 'Bad Medicine', skipper Lobo certainly showed us why the place has earned that title. The Marina has got to be one of the largest in the World and able to accommodate in excess of 500 large game boats - watching them go out early in the morning was a sight never to forget.

On our first day out we fished in the Sea of Cortez and were lucky enough to catch 2 blue-striped Marlin weighing 200 and 220lbs respectively. They were caught using 10lb skip-jack Tuna as bait! We also rescued a sea-turtle snagged in some rope and saw hundreds of porpoises that gave us our own show! Mike caught the first Marlin using 80lb gear and sitting in 'the chair'. However this wasn't as much fun as it should have been - it felt too much like being a human winch! Therefore, from that point on he used 40lb gear and cast out to the Marlin and reeled them in standing...

Mike Williams Marlin at back of boat 220lb striped Marlin Mike with rescued turtle

On our second day out fishing we went around the Pacific side and once again had a fantastic day. This time we were targeting other species - Tuna and Dorado. We managed to land a good Wahoo and several huge Dorado (also known as Dolphin fish or Mahi-Mahi) as well as another striped Marlin of approx. 220lbs. The Dorado suddenly appeared all at once and took 3 baits all at the same time. Mike reeled in 2 during the 20 minutes it took his wife, Tara, to reel in her one! (However Tara's was the biggest by quite a margin and weighed an impressive 50+lbs!). The Tuna escaped us for today but needless to say we both slept well that night!

Mike with Dorado Tara unable to lift her Dorado! Jumping Dorado! Mike with 3 very nice Dorado

After fishing for 2 days, we had a 2 day break before fishing another 2 consecutive days. During our time off we found plenty to do. Playa Del Amante (Lover's beach) is most accessible by boat and we took a glass-bottom water taxi there and back and for a tour around the photogenic rock formations. Mexico has pelicans that resemble pre-historic pteradactyls in flight instead of sea-gulls! The water taxi took us to see Pelican rock, Los Frailes where the sea lions rest and the cave where 2 people went in and 3 came out - you work it out! The marina is also surrounded by cafés and restaurants where it was also nice to sit, enjoy a light lunch and watch the boats come and go.

Boats leaving harbour Marina One of the locals! Mike & Tara at El Arco Lover's cave Sea Lion rock

Playa El Amante Playa El Amante Why it's not safe to swim Pacific side! El Arco or the dragon drinking water A Pelican in flight

Fishing Day 3: Managed to catch and release another 2 striped Marlin (one of 260lbs). We also caught a good sized Dorado and we managed to find some Tuna swimming amongst a school of dolphins/porpoises and land one. We also saw a whale today which was a lovely surprise as they don't usually appear in the area until November - at first all we could see in the distance was small clouds of water being blown up in the air, then eventually the whale dived and I managed to film 'the hand of God' before it disappeared below the water. Very Lucky.

Day 4: Our last day fishing. We'd been joking to the skipper that we'd seen and done just about everything the area has to offer except that we hadn't seen a sail fish. Lobo therefore ensured that we caught not one...but two! One was a very good size weighing approximately 120lbs.

Mike proudly holding up his Yellow-Fin Tuna Tuna and good-sized Dorado Lobo, Mike & Charlie holding the sailfish prior to release

For all who love their fishing this is the holiday of a lifetime. There is something for everyone to do at Los Cabos from shopping (yes - there are lots of lovely shops selling local wares!) to jet-skiing, snorkeling and diving, fishing and plenty of places to eat. Anyone who would like further details please feel free to e-mail us and also take a look at the Cabo Villas resort website (link on Mexico Home page and also our LINKS page)

Mexico 2004